(Maui) – The Maui County Office on Aging is seeking nominations for Maui County’s 46th Annual Outstanding Older American Male and Female of Maui County. The awards program is held each May in conjunction with Older Americans Month to recognize elders across the nation for their extraordinary efforts and contributions to society.

Nominees for the awards must be 65 years of age or older and a resident of Maui County. Any individual, club or organization may nominate candidates for the award. Previous winners are not eligible for nomination.

Nomination forms are available by calling 270-7755, online at www.mauicountyadrc.org, or by emailing mcoa.adrc@mauicounty.org. Deadline to return completed nomination forms is 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 2014 to the J. Walter Cameron Center, Attn: OOA Committee, 95 Mahalani St., Room 20, Wailuku, HI 96793. Completed forms may also be faxed to 270-7935 or emailed to mcoa.adrc@mauicounty.gov.

The awards will be presented at a luncheon on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at the Maui Beach Hotel’s Elleair Rainbow Ballroom from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The annual awards program recognizes older Americans for their contributions and provides them with information to help them stay healthy and active. This year, the national focus is on injury prevention with the theme, “Safe Today, Healthy Tomorrow.”

Older adults in Maui County have been celebrated for their contributions and achievements every year since 1968. Wendell Crockett was the first Maui County recipient of the prestigious award in 1968; last year’s awardees were Diane Logsdon of Kula and Richard Endsley of Lahaina. To date, 89 older adult volunteers have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to Maui County.